TN bill would allow college IDs for voting

Tennessee Sen. Bill Ketron has filed legislation that would allow student identification issued by state higher education institutions to be used for voting.

The Murfreesboro Republican is expected to present the proposal in the Senate State and Local Government Committee today.

Ketron said the legislation clears up any confusion regarding locally issued cards that he said were not supposed to be allowed under the original law passed two years ago. He said that includes library cards issued by local governments.

"This is simply a bill to make it clear that the photo identification must be state or federally issued photo ID cards, and that students attending state universities can use their photo ID when voting," Ketron said.

The city of Memphis and two residents sued the state last year after election officials refused to accept a city-issued library card with a photo as voter identification.

The Tennessee Court of Appeals has upheld the state voter ID law as constitutional but also allowed Memphis residents to use the library card as identification to vote. The Supreme Court said last year that the library card could be used while the court was considering the case.

It's expected to be several months before the high court makes a ruling.

- Associated Press

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TN bill would allow college IDs for voting

Tennessee Sen. Bill Ketron has filed legislation that would allow student identification issued by state higher education institutions to be used for voting.